Packing method and packaging device for implementing packing method

ABSTRACT

A packaging device is configured to implement a packing method that prevents a bridge from being generated inside a chute which supplies goods into a bag with a tube shape. In the packing method, goods dropped from above are accommodated in a chute with a funnel shape. The chute is then lowered while accelerating in a state where a discharge opening of the chute is open, and subsequently movement of the chute is suddenly reversed and the chute is raised so that the goods collected in the chute are discharged into a bag with a tube shape while being accelerated. The packaging device is provided with a cylinder which packs dropped goods into the bag with a tube shape, and the chute is raised and lowered in the cylinder.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a packing method for packing snack foodsuch as potato chips with low bulk density (this is referred to below asgoods) being collected in a chute with a funnel shape into a bag with atube shape and a packaging device for implementing this method.

BACKGROUND ART

Bag manufacturing and packaging devices, which pack goods from aboveinto a bag which is formed in a tube shape using a former and form asealed bag by laterally sealing an upper sealing portion (top portion)of the bag and a lower sealing portion (base portion) of a continuousbag which is continuous with the upper sealing portion of the bag at thesame time and vertically separating the border of the sealing portions,is widely used in various food product fields.

In a case when goods, such as with potato chip, which have low bulkdensity and in which there is a mixture from large sizes to small sizeare packed in these devices, there are cases when a bridge is generatedin a chute with a funnel shape for collecting the goods and the chute isclogged. For this reason, various clogging prevention devices asdisclosed in PTL 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. 2013-103753), PTL 2 (Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2012-140243), PTL 3 (Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 2009-040488), and PTL 4 (Japanese UnexaminedPatent Application Publication No. 2003-081222) are mounted in this typeof packaging devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, these clogging prevention devices have a problem that thecommercial value of the goods is reduced because the goods are hit by apoker or a rotating plate coming into the funnel-shaped chute andthereby broken into small pieces. In addition, since broken pieces ofgoods drop in the bag with a delay, there is also a problem that sealingdefects are caused by these broken pieces of goods being captured in thesealing portions of the bag.

The problem of the present invention is to propose a new packing methodwhere high speed operation is possible without above mentioned problemsoccurring and a packaging device for implementing this method.

Means to Solve the Problems

A packing method according to the present invention is a packing methodwhere goods which are dropped from above are accommodated in a chutewith a funnel shape and then packed into a bag with a tube shape andincludes collecting the goods inside the chute, lowering the chute whileaccelerating in a state where a discharge opening of the chute is open,and reversing direction of movement of the chute thereby raising thechute which is lowered, wherein the goods collected in the chute aredischarged into the bag while being accelerated.

In the process of collecting the goods in the chute, the goods which aredropped from above with a time lag are received and compactlyaccommodated in the chute with the funnel shape.

Preferably, the chute is provided with a funnel section at an upper partand a cylindrical section at a lower part which is continuous with thefunnel section, and the funnel section at the upper part has a functionof guiding the goods which fall on every side from above to the insideof the cylindrical section at the lower part. In addition, thecylindrical section at the lower part has a function to compactlyaccommodate the goods which fall from the funnel section. When the goodshave a sliced shape, a lower end discharge opening in the cylindricalsection may be cut diagonally in order for the goods to be accommodatedwith an erect posture as much as possible and the cut surface is openedand closed using a gate. Alternatively, the lower end discharge openingmay be cut with a V shape and the cut surface is open and closed using apair of gates which come into contact with and separate from each other.Due to this, a diagonal surface is formed in the lower end dischargeopening which is closed using the gate and the goods with a sliced shapeare filled along the diagonal surface.

When the goods are accommodated in the chute, the chute is lowered whileaccelerating and the gate is opened at the same time. Then, when thechute reaches the bottom dead point, the direction of movement of chuteis immediately reversed and thereby the chute is raised. Consequently,the goods inside the chute is accelerated downwards due to the loweringaction of the chute, and by the sudden reversing direction of movementof the chute and raising of the chute following this the falling goodsgo through the chute and drop due to the inertia of the goods. Due tothis, the goods which are compactly collected in the chute arevigorously discharged into the bag with a tube shape as one batch. Forthis reason, clogging inside the chute can be prevented. Further, it isalso possible to increase the packing density in the bag and suppressthe goods being captured in sealing portions because the goods insidethe chute are discharged as one batch.

In a case where the chute is provided with the funnel section at theupper part and the cylindrical section at the lower part which iscontinuous with the function section at the upper part, the goods tendto incline so that the longitudinal directions of the goods extend invertical direction in a process where the goods slide down the funnelsection and led to the inside of the cylindrical section even if thereis a mixture with the goods with a relatively large size. For thisreason, even if the funnel section is clogged, the goods which are largein size and the surrounding goods drop through the inside of the chutedue to the downward inertia which is applied by the lowering chute andthe following sudden reversing direction of movement of the chute andraising of the chute. Even if the goods remain inside the chute afterthis, the remaining goods drop through the chute with a delay since theremaining goods float up and then drop while being broken up when thechute which suddenly reversed direction of movement so as to be raisedstops at the top dead point. Accordingly, there is no circumstance wherethe packaging device is stopped since clogging inside the chute iseliminated when the next batch of goods drops in the chute.

A packaging device for implementing this packing method is a packagingdevice which bends packaging material with a sheet shape with a formerinto a cylindrical shape, then winds it around a cylinder extending invertical direction and thereby forms it into a tube shape and forms abag with a tube shape by laterally sealing a lower end section of thepackaging material with a tube shape using a pair of lateral sealingmeans. The packaging device is a packaging device which packs goods fromthe cylinder into the bag formed in a tube shape using the former,laterally seals an upper sealing portion of the bag in which the goodsis packed and a lower sealing portion of a continuous bag which iscontinuous with the upper sealing portion at the same time using thelateral sealing means, and forms a sealed bag which is packed with thegoods by separating the border of the sealing portions. The packagingdevice is provided with a chute with a funnel shape, a gate, a raisingand lowering mechanism, and a control section. Above the cylinder, thechute collects the goods which are dropped from above. The gate ispositioned at an upper end of the cylinder and opens and closes a lowerend discharge opening in the chute. The raising and lowering mechanismraises and lowers the chute in the vertical direction. The controlsection controls the opening and closing of the gate and the raising andlowering of the raising and lowering mechanism. In the packaging device,the control section inserts the chute in which the goods areaccommodated into the cylinder while accelerating the chute downward ina state where the gate is open, and then immediately reverses thedirection of movement of the chute and raises the chute.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate cloggingof goods in the chute since the goods which drops in pieces from aboveare gathered in the chute and then vigorously discharged into the bagwith the tube shape. In addition, it is possible for the goods to becompactly packed in the bag without being broken since the goods in thechute are discharged as one batch of goods. Accordingly, the goods areprevented from being captured in the sealing portions of the bag.Furthermore, it is possible for a sequence of batches of goods to bedistinctly packed into the bag, even when there is little time betweenthe packings of the previous batch of goods and the subsequent batch ofgoods, since the goods which drops in pieces from above are dischargedas one batch of goods in a state of being gathered in the chute whilebeing accelerated. Accordingly, high speed operation of the packagingdevice is possible. Further, continuous driving is possible sinceclogging is not generated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the main sections of apacking device in a packaging device according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the main sections of apackaging device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3(a) is a schematic front view of the packaging device forexplaining a collecting step of goods in the packaging device in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3(b) is a schematic side view of the packaging device forexplaining a collecting step of goods in the packaging device in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4(a) is a schematic front view of the packaging device forexplaining a discharging step of goods in the packaging device in FIG.2.

FIG. 4(b) is a schematic side view of the packaging device forexplaining a discharging step of goods in the packaging device in FIG.2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram of the outer appearance of the frontside of one embodiment of the packing device in the packaging deviceaccording the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective diagram of the outer appearance of the rear sideof one embodiment of the packing device in the packaging deviceaccording the present invention and is particularly a perspectivediagram of a state where a chute is positioned at the top dead position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective diagram of the outer appearance of the rear sideof one embodiment of the packing device in the packaging deviceaccording the present invention and is particularly a perspectivediagram of a state where a chute is positioned at the bottom deadposition.

FIG. 8 is a perspective diagram of the outer appearance of a weighingand packaging integral device which includes a packaging deviceaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective diagram of the outer appearance of a former anda cylinder as one embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective diagram of the outer appearance of a cylinderon which a packing device as one embodiment is mounted.

FIG. 11 is a partial cross sectional diagram of a cylinder as oneembodiment.

FIG. 12 is a configurational block diagram of a gas supplying means asone embodiment which is mounted in a cylinder.

FIG. 13 is a configurational block diagram of a weighing and packagingintegral device as one embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an operation timing chart of the weighing and packagingintegral device in FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Overall Outline

An outline of a packing method and a packaging device B according to oneembodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the main sections of apacking device 100 which is provided in the packaging device B accordingto one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a schematicconfiguration diagram of the main sections of the packaging device Bwhich is mounted with the packing device 100. In these diagrams, apackaging material F with a sheet shape is bent into a cylindrical shapeusing a former 3, then wound around a cylinder 7 and thereby formed in atube shape, and a lower end section of the packaging material F islaterally sealed using a pair of lateral sealing means 6, which comeinto contact with and separate from each other, to form a top portion(an upper sealing portion) of a bag TB with a tube shape and a baseportion (a lower sealing portion) of a continuous bag. The cylinder 7penetrates through a central portion of the former 3 in verticaldirection and is inserted into an upper end section of the bag TB with atube shape. Goods M which are dropped through a metal detector MD whichis arranged above a chute 103 are discharged into the cylinder 7 via thechute 103 with a funnel shape.

Here, the bag TB with a tube shape which is wound around the cylinder 7is lowered continuously or intermittently by a pair of pull-down belts4, 4 which are arranged on both sides of the bag TB. In addition, jointsT1, which are shaped by the both side edge portions of the packagingmaterial F formed in a tube shape by being wound around the cylinder 7,are vertically sealed using a vertical sealing means 5.

The chute 103 with the funnel shape is formed with a funnel section 131at an upper part and a cylindrical section 132 at a lower part, and alower end of the funnel section 131 and an upper end of the cylindricalsection 132 are connected vertically via opening sections with anelliptical shape which are cut diagonally to each other. The outerdiameter of the cylindrical section 132 is formed to be smaller than theinner diameter of the cylinder 7. The cylindrical section 132 is loweredby predetermined strokes in the cylinder 7 while accelerating and thenis returned to an initial position by immediately reversing direction ofits movement so as to be raised once it reaches a bottom dead point,using a raising and lowering mechanism 300 which will be describedlater. In addition, a lower end discharge opening in the cylindricalsection 132 is cut in a V shape and a gate 104 opens and closes the cutsurface from both sides.

The gate 104 includes opening and closing gates 141, 141 which open andclose an upper end section of the cylinder 7 and diagonal gates 142 a,142 a, each of which extends diagonally backward from an abuttingsection of each of the opening and closing gates 141, 141. Each of thediagonal gates 142 a, 142 a is configured so that a lower end section ofthe cylindrical section 132 which is cut in a V shape is opened andclosed from both sides. The gates 141 and 142 a are configured so as tocome into contact and separate in the direction of the arrows usingopening and closing mechanisms 144 which will be described later, and anupper end opening section 706 in the cylinder 7 and the lower enddischarge opening in the cylindrical section 132 are opened and closedat the same time by the opening and closing action of the opening andclosing mechanisms 144.

Here, the opening and closing gates 141, 141 which open and close theupper end opening section in the cylinder 7 are necessary when fillingan inert gas in the cylinder 7 and may be omitted when the gas is notfilled. In addition, a lower end section of the cylindrical section 132may be cut diagonally instead of being cut with a V shape and only oneof the diagonal gates may be used as the diagonal gate 142 a.

FIGS. 3(a), 3(b), 4(a) and 4(b) show schematics of the operations of thepackaging device B. FIGS. 3(a), 4(a) show front views, and FIG. 3(b),4(b) show side views. In these diagrams, the goods M which are droppedare led to vertical postures while slide down in the chute 103 andfilled in the cylindrical section 132. This is assisted by diagonalelliptical shapes of the connection portions of the funnel section 131and the cylindrical section 132 and the diagonal closure of the lowerend discharge opening in the cylindrical section 132 with the gate 104.When the connection portion of the funnel section 131 and thecylindrical section 132 is a diagonal elliptical shape, the goods Mslide down the connection portion while being tilted in a directionwhere there is less contact resistance and thereby being led to avertical orientation. In addition, the gate 104 in a state of beingclosed has a V shape in front view and the goods M which drop with avertical orientation are filled into the trough in the V shape.

Then, when the rearmost goods M which are dropped are accommodated inthe chute 103, the gate 104 is opened and, at the same time, the chute103 in which the goods M are accommodated is lowered while accelerating(refer to FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b)). Then, when the chute 103 reaches thebottom dead point, the chute 103 is returned to its initial position byhaving its direction of movement immediately reversed and raised whileaccelerating. During this, the goods M in the chute 103 are accelerateddownwards due to the lowering action of the chute 103 and then the goodswhich are falling go through the inside of the chute 103 by the inertiaof the goods M due to the subsequent reversing direction of movement ofthe chute 103 and raising of the chute 103. For this reason, even ifthere is a mixture with the goods M which are large enough to be stuckin the chute 103, these goods M are vigorously discharged from the chute103 together with the other goods M. Even if the goods M remain insidethe funnel section 131, the remaining goods M float up and then dropwhile being broken up in the air as the chute 103 suddenly stops at thetop dead point. For this reason, even a severe clogging is eliminatedand the goods M go through the chute 103. Accordingly, it is normallypossible to discharge the goods M into the bag without any clogging dueto the vertical movement of the chute 103 even if the goods M which arelarge enough to make a bridge drop.

<Details>

The packing method and the packaging device B for implementing thepacking method will be described in detail.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective diagram of the outer appearance of a weighingand packaging integral device 200 which includes the packaging device Bwhich is one embodiment of the packaging device according to the presentinvention. In this diagram, the weighing and packaging integral device200 has a configuration where the packaging device B is arranged at alower part and a weighing machine W is arranged at an upper part and isprovided with a touch panel 2, by which it is possible to integrallyoperate the packaging device B and the weighing machine W, at the front.

The weighing machine W is configured using a combination weighingmachine with a well-known configuration. The goods M are snack food suchas potato chips and are supplied to a central upper section of theweighing machine W. The goods M which are supplied to the central uppersection are dispersed on a plurality of radial pathways and are thensupplied to corresponding weighing hoppers WH in a lower part via aplurality of pool hoppers PH which are arranged at the terminal ends ofthe respective pathways. The weights of the goods M which are beingweighed using the respective weighing hoppers WH are combined and theweighing hoppers WH which make an optimal combination forming a certainquantity of the goods M are selected. The selected weighing hoppers WHdischarge the goods M into a collection chute C based on a dischargerequest signal from the packaging device B. The discharged goods M gothrough the inside of the metal detector MD (refer to FIG. 2) whilestretching out lengthwise in a longitudinally arrayed state when itslides down the collection chute C. The discharged goods M are thensupplied to the packaging device B via the chute 103 of the packingdevice 100. The packaging device B performs bag packaging byaccommodating the goods M in a bag b with a tube shape and thenlaterally sealing the top portion of the bag b and the base portion ofthe continuous bag at the same time (refer to FIG. 2).

<Overall Configuration of Packaging Device>

The packaging device B which performs such operations is configured froma packaging unit BU which produces bagged products from bags with a tubeshape, a packaging material supplying unit FU which supplies thepackaging material F to the packaging unit BU, and a control section 10(refer to FIG. 13) which controls the movements of driving sections ofeach of the packaging unit BU and the packaging material supplying unitFU. The packaging material supplying unit FU supplies the packagingmaterial F with a sheet shape to the former 3 in the packaging unit BUand is provided to be adjacent to a rear section of the packaging unitBU.

The packaging unit BU will be explained in reference to the schematicdiagram of the packaging device B in FIG. 2. The packaging unit BU isprovided with the former 3, the pull-down belts 4, the vertical sealingmeans 5, and a lateral sealing means 6. The former 3 forms the packagingmaterial F with a sheet shape into a tube shape. The pull-down belts 4convey the packaging material F, which is formed in a tube shape,downward. The vertical sealing means 5 vertically seals the joint T1which is a portion where both ends of the packaging material TB with atube shape overlap at the front side. The lateral sealing means 6 heatseals the top portion of the bag b and the base portion of thecontinuous bag at the same time by laterally sealing the bag b which isformed at a lower end section of the packaging material TB with a tubeshape. In addition, the packaging unit BU has the cylinder 7 whichguides the goods M to the inside of the bag b and around the outercircumference of which the packaging material F with a tube shape iswound. Here, both of the packaging material F which is formed in a tubeshape and the bag b which is formed at the lower end section of thepackaging material F may be referred to the bag TB with a tube shape inthe following description.

The packaging unit BU also has the packing device 100 (refer to FIG. 2).The packing device 100 accommodates the goods M, which are dropped fromthe weighing machine W at the upper side through the inside of the metaldetector MD, in the chute 103 with a funnel section and discharges thegoods M into the bag TB with a tube shape via the cylinder 7. Thepackaging unit BU also has a gas supplying means 9 (refer to FIG. 13).The gas supplying means 9 fills inert gas into the cylinder 7.

(1) Packaging Unit

The packing device 100, the former 3, the cylinder 7, the pull-downbelts 4, the vertical sealing means 5, the lateral sealing means 6, andthe gas supplying means 9 of the packaging unit BU will be describedbelow in detail.

(1-1) Packing Device

The packing device 100 in the packaging device B will be described. Thepacking device 100 accommodates the goods M which are dropped from abovein the chute 103 with a funnel shape and discharges the goods M into thebag TB with a tube shape.

<Overall Configuration of Packing Device>

FIG. 5 shows a perspective diagram of the outer appearance of the frontside of the packing device 100 which is one embodiment of the packingdevice in the packaging device B according the present invention. FIG. 6and FIG. 7 show perspective diagrams of the outer appearance of the rearside of the packing device 100. In these diagrams, the packing device100 is provided with the chute 103, the gate 104 which opens and closesthe lower end discharge opening in the chute 103, and the raising andlowering mechanism 300 which raises and lowers the chute 103. Here, FIG.5 and FIG. 6 show a state where the chute 103 is positioned at the topdead point. Furthermore, FIG. 5 shows a state where the gate 104 isclosed and FIG. 6 shows a state where the gate 104 is open. In addition,FIG. 7 shows a state where the gate 104 is open and the chute 103 islowered to the lower dead point.

<Configuration of Chute>

The chute 103 is provided with the funnel section 131 at the upper partand the cylindrical section 132 at the lower part. The lower enddischarge opening in the cylindrical section 132 at the lower part iscut with a V shape and the gate 104 is configured to open and close thecut surface from both sides. In addition, a bracket 133 is attached tothe outer side of the rear surface of the cylindrical section 132. Thebracket 133 is attached to a raising and lowering arm 301 of the raisingand lowering mechanism 300 and is configured so that the entirety of thechute 103 is raised and lowered in the vertical direction.

Here, the chute 103 is made of resin. The material for the chute 103 isnot limited to resin and the chute 103 may be made of metal. However,the following effects are obtained by making the chute 103 with resin.

The metal detector MD for detecting metal being mixed in with the goodsM is arranged above the packing device 100, in other words, above thechute 103 as shown in FIG. 2. It is desirable for the metal detector MDthat a metal-free zone of approximately 50 to 100 mm is provided aboveand below the metal detector MD in order to prevent erroneous detecting.

In a case where the chute 103 is made of metal, it would be necessary tokeep a distance between the metal detector MD and the chute 103 in orderto provide the metal-free zone and this tends to lower performance suchas an increase in the dropping distance of the goods M.

In contrast to this, if the material for the chute 103 is resin, it isnot necessary to keep a distance between the metal detector MD and thechute 103 and it is possible to reduce the dropping distance of thegoods M and to easily prevent the erroneous detection by the metaldetector MD. In particular, if the chute 103 is formed using transparentresin, it is possible to easily adjust the drop timing of the goods Msince the dropping of the goods M is visible. Further, when the chute103 is formed using a transparent resin, even if a bridge of the goods M(a state where the goods M are stuck in the chute 103) is created in thechute 103, it is possible to easily discover the bridge.

<Configuration of Gate>

The gate 104 has the opening and closing gates 141, 141 which open andclose the upper end opening section 706 of the cylinder 7 (refer to FIG.9) and the diagonal gates 142 a, 142 a which extend diagonally backwardfrom abutting sections of the respective opening and closing gates 141,141. The diagonal gates 142 a, 142 a are resin members with a triangularprism shape and are fixed to the opening and closing gates 141, 141(refer to FIG. 5). Here, the diagonal gates 142 a, 142 a are not limitedto resin members with a triangular prism shape. The diagonal gates 142a, 142 a may be, for example, metal plates which respectively extenddiagonally backward from abutting sections of the opening and closinggates 141, 141. The diagonal gates 142 a, 142 a open and close the lowerend discharge opening in the cylindrical section 132, which is cut in aV shape, from both sides. In addition, the opening and closing gates141, 141 are guided to the troughs of a pair of guide rails 143, 143which extend in the horizontal direction and are configured so as tocome into contact with and separate from each other along with therespective diagonal gates 142 a, 142 a by the opening and closingmechanisms 144, 144. Due to this, the lower end discharge opening in thecylindrical section 132 and the upper end opening section 706 of thecylinder 7 are opened and closed at the same time.

At respective rear sections of the opening and closing gates 141, 141(in the vicinity of edge section of the opening and closing gate 141 onthe side opposite to the side where the other opening and closing gates141 is arranged), slots 145, 145, which extend in a direction which isorthogonal to the movement direction of the opening and closing gates141, 141, are formed. Sliders 146, 146, which slide along the slots 145,145, are inserted in the slots 145, 145 (refer to FIG. 5). The openingand closing mechanisms 144, 144 are configured by the sliders 146, 146,rotation arms 147, 147 at a tip end section of which the sliders 146,146 are attached, and servo motors 148 a, 148 a which rotate the sliders146, 146 over a range of 180 degrees by rotating the rotation arms 147,147 by 180 degrees. Servo motors are used here in driving of the openingand closing mechanisms 144, 144, but vane type actuators which rotate athigh speed using air pressure may be used alternatively. When therotation arms 147, 147 are moved back and forth by 180 degrees using theservo motors 148 a, 148 a, the pair of opening and closing gates 141,141 and the respective diagonal gates 142 a, 142 a come into contactwith or separate from each other in opposite directions and thereby openand close the lower end discharge opening in the cylindrical section 132and the upper end opening section 706 in the cylinder 7.

The pair of guide rails 143, 143 which extend in the horizontaldirection are fixed to a base frame 101 and support legs 102 to 102 arefixed to the four corners of the base frame 101. In addition, coilsprings 21 to 21 and toroidal shaped pressing plates 22 to 22 coversupport shafts between the respective support legs 102 to 102 and thebase frame 101. Furthermore, half-screw bolts, which are covered by thecoil springs 21 and the toroidal shaped pressing plates 22 in the samemanner, are fixed with an upward orientation from a lower side at twolocations on the front side of the base frame 101. Plates 23, 23 aredetachably inserted between the toroidal shaped pressing plates 22 to 22and the support legs 102 and between the toroidal shaped pressing plates22, 22 and the head sections of the half-screw bolts. For this reason,notches into which fit the support shafts of the support legs 102 andthe shaft of the half-screw bolts are provided in the plates 23, 23.

In addition, the servo motors 148 a, 148 a are attached to the plates23, 23. When the plates 23 are inclined with regard to the base frame101 while the coil springs 21, 21 being compressed, it is possible forthe sliders 146 to be released from the slots 145 due to the servomotors 148 a being inclined and it is possible for the opening andclosing gates 141 to be pulled out from the guide rails 143 when thesliders 146 are released. Due to this, disassembling and cleaning of thegates 104 are possible. In addition, the packing device 100 is connectedwith the cylinder 7 via a coupling tool which is not shown in thedrawings. When the connection of the packing device 100 with thecylinder 7 is released and the base frame 101 is lifted up, the entiretyof the packing device 100 can be separated from the cylinder 7.

Here, the lengths of four support legs 102 to 102 which are attached tothe base frame 101 are set so that the chute 103 is not in contact withthe floor even at its lowest position and the servo motors 148 a, 148 aare suspended above the floor even if the packing device 100 detachedfrom the cylinder 7 is placed directly on the floor.

<Raising and Lowering Mechanism>

The raising and lowering mechanism 300 is a mechanism which moves theraising and lowering arm 301 vertically (refer to FIG. 5) using a servomotor which is not shown in the drawings. An upper section of theraising and lowering mechanism 300 is supported by a body frame (whichis not shown in the drawings) of the packaging device B.

The raising and lowering arm 301 is connected with the chute 103 via abracket 133. The raising and lowering mechanism 300 raises the raisingand lowering arm 301 by driving the servo motor and raises the chute 103to the top dead point. In addition, the raising and lowering mechanism300 lowers the raising and lowering arm 301 by driving the servo motorand lowers the chute 103 to the bottom dead point. For example, thechute 103 is driven by the raising and lowering mechanism 300 so thatthe tip end of the chute 103 (the tip end of the cylindrical section132) reaches to below a diagonal section 701 inside the cylinder 7 wherethe inner diameter of the cylinder 7 becomes narrower. The diagonalsection 701 will be described later.

Here, in the present embodiment, the raising and lowering mechanism 300moves the raising and lowering arm 301 up and down by converting therotational action of the servo motor as a drive source into a linearaction using a rack and pinion mechanism or a crank mechanism but theraising and lowering mechanism 300 is not limited to this. For example,an air cylinder may be used as the drive source for the raising andlowering mechanism 300 which moves the raising and lowering arm 301 upand down. In addition, for example, a linear motor which carries outlinear actions may be used as the drive source for the raising andlowering mechanism 300 which moves the raising and lowering arm 301 upand down.

(1-2) Former

FIG. 9 shows a perspective diagram of the outer appearance of the former3 and the cylinder 7. FIG. 10 shows a perspective diagram of the outerappearance of the cylinder 7 in a state where the packing device 100 ismounted on an upper end section of the cylinder 7. In these diagrams,the former 3 is provided with a sailor section 30 where the packagingmaterial F with a sheet shape is bent in a tube shape and a collarsection 31 which is formed around the cylinder 7. Then, the former 3 andthe cylinder 7 which penetrates through the collar section 31 verticallyare attached to a base member 32.

The base member 32 is detachably attached to the base frame (which isnot shown in the drawing) of the packaging device B and sliders 33, 33,which are fixed to and supported by being inserted into rails (which isnot shown in the drawings) of the base frame, are formed on both sidesof the base member 32. In addition, grips 34, 34 with a circular columnshape are attached to both sides on the front side of the base member32. A lateral bar 35, which bridges between the grips 34 in thehorizontal direction (refer to FIG. 10), is attached to the grips 34. Arod 36 is attached to a central section of the lateral bar 35 in thefront and back direction and the cylinder 7 is supported by the grips34, 34 via the rod 36 and the lateral bar 35. In addition, horizontalbrackets 37, 37 with a V shape are fixed to an upper section of thecylinder 7 and end sections of the horizontal brackets 37, 37 arerespectively attached to upper end sections of the grips 34, 34. Thecylinder 7 is supported by the grips 34, 34 via the horizontal brackets37, 37, the lateral bar 35, and the rod 36.

The collar section 31 of the sailor section 30 is formed in acylindrical shape so as to surround the outer circumference of thecylinder 7 and the collar section 31 is overlapped at the front with aslight gap like the collar on a kimono. In other words, the collarsection 31 of the sailor section 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape soas to surround the outer circumference of the cylinder 7 and one of theend sections of the collar section 31 is arranged in front of the otherend section of the collar section 31 with a slight gap at the front.When the packaging material F is set, the packaging material F is bentso as to follow the surface of the sailor section 30, is further bent ina tube shape at the collar section 31, and is wrapped around the outercircumference of the cylinder 7 via a slit between the inner side of thecollar section 31 and the outer side of the cylinder 7.

(1-3) Cylinder

FIG. 11 shows a partial cross sectional diagram of the cylinder 7. Inthis diagram, the diagonal section 701 with a funnel shape is formed onan upper section of the cylinder 7 and a flange 702 is attached to anupper end edge of the diagonal section 701. Vertical through holes areprovided at two opposing locations on the flange 702 (at the front andrear of the cylinder 7) and one-touch couplings 703, through which inertgas is injected, are attached at the through holes. In addition, a cap704 in a hollow toroidal shape with an open bottom surface covers theflange 702 so as to interpose packing therebetween and an inert gaspathway 705 is formed by the cap 704 and the flange 702. The upper endopening section 706 with a funnel shape is formed in a central sectionof the cap 704 with the toroidal shape, and a downwardly diagonal slitwith a ring shape, which is formed between the inner wall of the upperend opening section 706 and the diagonal section 701, becomes a gasoutlet 707 for inert gas. In addition, the inner diameter of the lowerend section of the upper end opening section 706 is designedsubstantially the same with the inner diameter of the cylinder 7 and theupper end opening section 706 does not come into contact with thecylindrical section 132 of the chute 103 which is raised and lowered.

The cap 704 with the toroidal shape is detachable to the flange 702. Indetail, an L-shaped hook 708 which is shown in FIG. 9 is attached on theouter wall of the cylinder 7 and it is possible to move up and down theL-shaped hook 708 by unfolding a foldable butterfly knob 709 and turningit. Accordingly, the flange of the cap 704 and the flange 702 of thecylinder 7 are sandwiched from above and below and thereby locked whenthe L-shaped hook 708 is lowered by turning the butterfly knob 709 in astate where the cap 704 covers the flange 702. In addition, it ispossible to take out the cap 704 from the cylinder 7 when the L-shapedhook 708 is lifted up by turning the butterfly knob 709. Due to this,cleaning of the gas outlet 707 is enabled.

In addition, the base frame 101 of the packing device 100 is mounted onthe upper surface of the cap 704 and the cap 704 and the base frame 101are connected together using a connector tool which is not shown in thedrawings. In addition, the opening and closing gates 141, 141 open andclose the upper end opening section 706 which is described above. Then,inert gas is injected so as to blow batch of the goods M discharged fromthe chute 103 downward and to be supplied in the bag TB with a tubeshape while the chute 103 is being moved up and down.

In FIG. 9 to FIG. 11, a socket 710 through which inert gas is injectedinto the cylinder 7 is attached to the front side of an upper section ofthe cylinder 7 and a one-touch coupling which is not shown in thedrawings is attached to the socket 710. In addition, a duct 711, whichguides inert gas injected from the socket 710 to a lower end section ofthe cylinder 7, is formed on an inner wall of the cylinder 7 whichcontinues to the socket 710. Then, at a driving preparation stage,oxygen inside the bag TB with a tube shape is replaced with inert gas byvigorously injecting inert gas into the bag TB with a tube shape from alower end discharge opening 712 of the duct 711.

A spreader 713, which widens the bag TB with a tube shape from an innerside, is provided at a lower end section of the cylinder 7.

(1-4) Pull-Down Belts

The pull-down belts 4, 4 which are arranged on both sides of thecylinder 7 are configured by suction chambers 41, 41 and belts 42, 42with holes which run around the suction chambers 41, 41 while facinginwardly with each other. The bag TB with a tube shape is transporteddownward while being suctioned and held by the belts 42, 42 (refer toFIG. 2). In addition, the pull-down belts 4, 4 are connected with amovement mechanism (which is not shown in the drawings) which makes thepull-down belts 4, 4 come into contact and separate with regard to thecylinder 7.

(1-5) Vertical Sealing Means

The vertical sealing means 5 heat seals the joint T1 of the packagingmaterial F which is formed in a tube shape while pushing the joint T1against the cylinder 7 with a certain pressure. The vertical sealingmeans 5 is configured by a heater block 51 and a metal belt 52 whichruns around the heater block 51 at the same time with the packagingmaterial F (refer to FIG. 2). In addition, the vertical sealing means 5is connected with a movement mechanism (which is not shown in thedrawings) which makes the vertical sealing means 5 come into contact andseparate with regard to the cylinder 7 along with the pull-down belts 4,4.

(1-6) Lateral Sealing Means

The lateral sealing means 6 is configured by a pair of sealing jaws 61,61 in which a heater it built and a driving mechanism (which is notshown in the drawings) which makes the pair of sealing jaws 61, 61 comeinto contact with and separate from each other with regard to the TB ina tube shape. Clam shutters 62, 62 which sandwich the bag TB with a tubeshape from the front and back is attached to an upper section of thesealing jaws 61, 61 so as to be able to progress and retreat in thehorizontal direction. The clam shutters 62, 62 prevent small droppingfragments from being captured in the lateral sealing portion of the bagb by closing them prior to the sealing jaws 61, 61.

As the driving mechanism for the lateral sealing means 6, it is possibleto use a mechanism which is disclosed in, for example, JapaneseUnexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-53206 by which the pairof sealing jaws 61, 61 are rotated while facing inwardly with each otherso that each of the pair of sealing jaws 61, 61 traces out an actiontrajectory with a D shape (a so-called D motion). Alternatively, as thedriving mechanism for the lateral sealing means 6, it is possible to usea mechanism which causes each of the sealing jaws 61, 61 to perform aso-called box motion.

Each of the sealing jaws 61, 61 laterally seals a top portion of abottom end section of the bag b and a base portion of the continuous bagTB at the same time by sandwiching and pressing the bag TB with a tubeshape each other. In addition, a cutter which is not shown in thedrawings is built in one of the sealing jaws 61. The bag b which locatesat a lower end section and the continuous bag TB are verticallyseparated by using the cutter.

(1-7) Gas Supplying Means

FIG. 12 is a configurational block diagram of the gas supplying means 9.The gas supplying means 9 is configured by a gas cylinder 91 which holdsinert gas such as nitrogen gas or argon gas in a pressurized state, apressure adjusting valve 92 which depressurizes inert gas supplied fromthe gas cylinder 91 and sends it to three pathways, a first solenoidvalve 93 and a first flow amount adjusting valve 94 which are connectedwith a first pathway of the three pathways, a second solenoid valve 95and a second flow amount adjusting valve 96 which are connected with asecond pathway of the three pathways, and a third solenoid valve 97 anda third flow amount adjusting valve 98 which are connected with a thirdpathway of the three pathways.

In addition, the outlet sides of the first flow amount adjusting valve94 and the second flow amount adjusting valve 96 are merged andconnected to the one-touch couplings 703 which locates at an uppersection of the cylinder 7. Accordingly, inert gas with a first flowamount is supplied from the first flow amount adjusting valve 94 whenthe first solenoid valve 93 is opened, and inert gas with a second flowamount is supplied from the second flow amount adjusting valve 96 whenthe second solenoid valve 95 is opened, to the inert gas pathway 705which locates at the upper section of the cylinder 7 and ejecteddownward through the gas outlet 707 with a ring shape into the cylinder7.

The outlet side of the third flow amount adjusting valve 98 is connectedwith a one-touch coupling (which is not shown in the drawings) which isattached to the socket 710 on the outer wall of the cylinder 7.Accordingly, inert gas with a third flow amount is ejected from thethird flow amount adjusting valve 98 downward through the lower enddischarge opening 712 in the duct 711 into the bag TB with a tube shapewhen the third solenoid valve 97 is opened. The third flow amount is setto a large flow amount which can instantly replace inside the bag with atube shape with inert gas in order to replace inside the bag TB with atube shape with the inert gas in a short period of time. After the inertgas replacement, the gas flow amount is reduced and the gas replacementrate inside the bag TB with a tube shape is maintained so as not to bereduced until the goods M are discharged.

The flow amount of inert gas which is supplied to the inside of thecylinder 7 differs depending on the bulk density and the content amountof the goods M, the size of the bag, the operation speed, and the like.For example, in a case where the bulk density of potato chips (thedensity of the goods M in a container in a case when gaps between thegoods M are eliminated as much as possible by applying vibration) is0.083 grams per cubic centimeter, the content amount is one ounce (28.35grams), the bag size is a width of 133 mm and a height of 184 mm, andthe operation speed is 150 bags per minute, the first flow amount is setat 220 liters per minute and the second flow amount is set at 300 litersper minute. But these are only one example and these flow amounts may bemodified if the conditions differ.

(2) Control Section

The control section 10 which controls the packaging device B will bedescribed below in detail.

FIG. 13 shows a configurational block diagram of a control system forthe weighing and packaging integral device 200. In this diagram, thecontrol section 10 controls the weighing machine W and the packagingdevice B individually or integrally. The control section 10 isconfigured by a computer. The control section 10 controls each drivingsection in the packaging unit BU and the packaging material supplyingunit FU in accordance with parameters and driving conditions which areset using the touch panel 2 which is shown in FIG. 13. In addition, thecontrol section 10 controls a feeder FD, the pool hoppers PH, theweighing hoppers WH, and the like in the weighing machine W.Furthermore, the control section 10 takes in necessary information fromvarious types of sensors which are mounted in the weighing machine W andthe packaging device B and performs various types of control based onthis information.

With regard to the packaging unit BU, the control section 10 controlseach of the pull-down belt 4, the vertical sealing means 5, the lateralsealing means 6, the gas supplying means 9, and the packing device 100,and controlling of each of these is related to each other. Here, theopening and closing of the weighing hoppers WH, an operation of packingby the packing device 100, and gas supply by the gas supplying means 9will be focused on and described.

Here, the chute 103 in the packing device 100 is positioned at the topdead point and the opening and closing gates 141, 141 are closed in aninitial state.

Firstly, as prior preparation, the packaging material F is formed in atube shape by being set in the former 3. The goods M are supplied to acentral upper section of the weighing machine W. Then, when an operatorinstructs to start the operation by operating the touch panel 2, thecontrol section 10 firstly forms the bag TB with a tube shape byoperating the pull-down belts 4, the vertical sealing means 5, and thelateral sealing means 6. When this is done, the control section 10 opensthe third solenoid valve 97 for a set period of time in a state wherethe gate 104 is open. With this, inert gas replacement inside the bag TBwith a tube shape is performed by vigorously ejecting inert gas with thethird flow amount from the lower end discharge opening 712 of the duct711 into the bag TB with a tube shape. When this is finished, thecontrol section 10 closes the gate 104, throttles the third flow amountadjusting valve 98 to flow a small amount of inert gas and thereby setsthe packaging device B in standby state.

During this, combined weighing is performed by the goods M beingsupplied from the pool hoppers PH to the weighing hoppers WH and theweighing machine W waits for a completion signal from the packagingdevice B after discharge preparations are ready. When the preparationsin the weighing machine W and the packaging device B are complete, thecontrol section 10 shuts the third solenoid valve 97 and causes thegoods M with regard to the optimal combination to be discharged from theweighing machine W by transmitting a start signal to the weighingmachine W. After this, the goods M are discharged from the weighingmachine W to the packaging device B with a certain cycle of, forexample, a cycle of 0.4 seconds.

FIG. 14 represents the operation timing of each of the weighing hoppersWH, the gate 104, the chute 103, and the gas supplying means 9 afterdischarging of the goods. When the weighing machine W discharges thegoods M, the weighing machine W sends a discharge completion signal tothe control section 10. Then, a timer is started from the point in timewhen the discharge completion signal is received and the period of timefor the rearmost goods M to reach the chute 103 is measured since thehead of the goods M which is discharged reaches the chute 103 after apredetermined time, for example after 0.8 seconds. Since the rearmostgoods M reaches the chute 103 when time is up, the control section 10performs opening of the gate 104, lowering of the chute 103, and openingof the first solenoid valve 93 at the same time and thereby chute 103 inwhich the goods M are accommodated is lowered while being acceleratedand inert gas with the first flow amount is supplied to the inside ofthe cylinder 7 from the gas outlet 707 at an upper section of thecylinder 7.

That is, the goods M discharged from the weighing hoppers WH are put inthe vertical column state during being dropped and sequentially reachesthe inside of the chute 103 and accumulates inside the cylindricalsection 132. When the rearmost goods M reach the chute 103, the chute103 is lowered at the same time as the closed gate 104 is opened.Furthermore, inert gas is ejected to the inside of the cylinder 7 byejecting inert gas with the first flow amount while the chute 103 isbeing lowered. At this time, the gate 104 is opened earlier than thechute 103 is lowered. Then, when the chute 103 reaches the bottom deadpoint, the control section 10 immediately reverses direction of movementof the chute and raises the chute 103. Due to this, the goods M whichare compactly brought together in the chute 103 are instantly dischargedinto the bag TB with a tube shape from the chute 103 due to the chute103 being lowered and then having its direction of movement reversed soas to be raised. Then, when the chute 103 is returned to the top deadpoint, the control section 10 closes off the gate 104 and stopssupplying inert gas by closing the first solenoid valve 93 at the sametime. Next, the control section 10 ejects inert gas with the second flowamount downward from the same gas outlet 707 by opening the secondsolenoid valve 95 which is closed and supplying inert gas with thesecond flow amount into the inert gas pathway 705.

Due to this, the chute 103 can be set in a state of readiness to receivethe goods M which are to be dropped next. In addition, one batch of thegoods M which are discharged to the inside of the cylinder 7 isaccommodated inside the bag b which locates at a lower end section bybeing dropped into the bag TB with a tube shape while receiving adownward gas flow from behind. At this time, the bag TB with a tubeshape is gradually extended while being transported along the cylinder 7and the capacity of the bag TB with a tube shape increases in companywith the extending of the bag TB, and the inert gas with the second flowamount is filled.

Here, the first flow amount and the second flow amount in a case ofcontinuous transporting are set to values which sufficiently compensatefor increases in the capacity of the bag TB. In addition, since theinert gas rises up when the opening and closing gates 141 are closed offand then lateral sealing means 6 comes into contact with the bag TB witha tube shape and press the bag, it is preferable that the second flowamount is set to a flow amount which is slightly more than the firstflow amount in order for the goods M to go downwards against the risingof inert gas.

Then, at a stage when one batch of the goods M which are discharged frominside of the cylinder 7 are substantially collected inside the bag bwhich locates at a lower end section, a process is performed where thepair of clam shutters 62, 62 which protrude from the sealing jaws 61, 61press the bag TB with a tube shape from the front and back due to thelateral sealing means 6 coming into contact with the bag TB with a tubeshape (refer to FIG. 4(b)). In accompaniment with this, there is atendency for inert gas inside the bag TB to rise up, however inert gasinside the cylinder 7 does not rise up since the chute 103 is raised andthe upper end opening section 706 in the cylinder 7 is closed off by thegate 104. Instead, the inert gas with the second flow amount lowers andsinks small fragments, which reach the inside of the bag b which locatesat a lower end section with a delay, downward into the bag b. Then, thecontrol section 10 stops supplying inert gas with the second flow amountby closing the second solenoid valve 95 at a timing when the clamshutters 62, 62 are closed.

In this manner, the clam shutters 62, 62 close off an upper end sectionof the bag b and lateral sealing is started, thereby the bag TB with atube shape is newly formed above the bag b which locates at a lower endsection. Since the capacity of this new bag TB increases in company withextending of the bag TB, the air pressure inside the new bag TB isreduced when supplying of inert gas with the second flow amount isstopped. However, since the last of the goods M, which are newly andsubsequently discharged from the weighing machine W, reach the chute 103as the lateral sealing is completed, the control section 10 repeats theprocesses described above by performing opening of the gate 104 which isclosed up until this point, lowering of the chute 103, and opening ofthe first solenoid valve 93 at the point in time when the rearmost goodsM reach the chute 103. Due to this, the air pressure inside the new bagTB which is reduced due to extending of the bag TB is returned to theoriginal air pressure. Here, a new group of the goods M also drops intothe bag TB with a tube shape due to being pressed by a downward gas flowsince inert gas which is held in the chute 103 above the gate 104 isinstantly pulled inside the cylinder 7 when the closed gate 104 isopened.

By repeating this cycle, it is possible to reduce small fragments beingcaptured in the lateral sealing portion of the bag since one batch ofthe goods M is instantly discharged from the chute 103 and inert gas isintermittently supplied downward from an upper section of the cylinder7.

In addition, here, it is possible to reduce the amount of inert gas usedcompared to a case where inert gas is continuously supplied since inertgas is intermittently supplied so as to correspond to volumetricvariation in the bag TB with a tube shape. In addition, it is possibleto prevent small fragments being captured in the lateral sealing portionby effectively preventing the small fragment from floating upward sinceinert gas is supplied downward from an upper end section of the cylinder7 to the inside of the bag and gas flow inside the tube always flowsdownward even when the internal volume of the bag TB with a tube shapechanges due to the approach of the lateral sealing means 6.

One embodiment of the invention is described above, but the invention isnot limited to this and it is possible for other aspects to be adopted.

For example, the weighing and packaging integral device is described inthis embodiment, but instead of this, it is possible for the inventionto be applied to a previous type where the weighing machine and thepackaging device are operated while being linked with each other.

In addition, the bag with a tube shape is laterally sealed while beingcontinuously transported in this embodiment, but instead of this, thebag with a tube shape may be laterally sealed while being intermittentlytransported.

Furthermore, raising and lowering of the chute 103 and opening andclosing of the gate 104 are independent but the movements may be linkedto each other by coupling them using a link.

Furthermore, the first solenoid valve 93 and the second solenoid valve95 are alternately opened and closed in conjunction with opening andclosing of the gate in this embodiment, but instead of this, inert gasmay be supplied to the inside of the cylinder from both flow pathways byopening the first solenoid valve 93 while opening the second solenoidvalve 95. In this case, adjustment is required so that the total of theamounts through the first flow amount adjusting valve 94 and the secondflow amount adjusting valve 96 are adjusted to the original second flowamount by throttling the second flow amount adjusting valve 96.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   3 FORMER-   6 LATERAL SEALING MEANS-   7 CYLINDER-   9 GAS SUPPLYING MEANS-   10 CONTROL SECTION-   61 SEALING JAW-   62 CLAM SHUTTER-   100 PACKING DEVICE-   103 CHUTE-   104 GATE-   141 OPENING AND CLOSING GATE-   142 a DIAGONAL GATE-   300 RAISING AND LOWERING MECHANISM-   706 UPPER END OPENING SECTION-   707 GAS OUTLET-   TB BAG WITH TUBE SHAPE-   M GOODS-   B PACKAGING DEVICE-   F PACKAGING MATERIAL

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2013-103753

PTL 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2012-140243

PTL 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2009-040488

PTL 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2003-081222

1. A packing method, where goods dropped from above are accommodated ina chute with a funnel shape and are then packed into a bag with a tubeshape, comprising: collecting the goods in the chute; lowering the chutefrom a raised position while accelerating in a state where a dischargeopening of the chute is open to a lowered position; and reversingdirection of movement of the chute thereby raising the chute from thelowered position to a raised position, wherein the goods collected inthe chute are discharged into the bag with a tube shape while beingaccelerated.
 2. A packaging device, which packs goods from a cylinderinto a bag formed in a tube shape using a former, laterally seals anupper sealing portion of the bag in which the goods are packed and alower sealing portion of a continuous bag which is continuous with theupper sealing portion of the bag at the same time using a lateralsealing means, and forms a sealed bag by separating the border of thesealing portions, comprising: a chute with a funnel shape arranged abovethe cylinder and configured to accommodate the goods which are droppedfrom above; a gate configured to open and close a lower end dischargeopening in the chute; a raising and lowering mechanism configured toraise and lower the chute vertically between a raised position and alowered position; and a control section controlling the opening andclosing of the gate and the raising and lowering of the raising andlowering mechanism, wherein the control section is configured to lowerthe chute from the raised position to the lowered position in which thegoods are accommodated into the cylinder while accelerating movement ofthe chute downward in a state where the gate is open and thenimmediately reversing direction of movement of the chute thereby raisingthe chute to the raised position.
 3. The packaging device according toclaim 2, further comprising: a gas supplying means configured to supplyinert gas into the bag which is formed in a tube shape at an uppersection of the cylinder, wherein the gate has an opening and closinggate which is configured to open and close an upper end opening sectionof the cylinder, and the control section also controls the gas supplyingmeans so that inert gas is injected from the gas supplying means intothe bag which is formed in a tube shape while the opening and closinggate is open.
 4. The packaging device according to claim 3, wherein alower end section of the cylinder is positioned above a lateral sealingportion in a bag which is formed with a tube shape, the gas supplyingmeans is configured to supply inert gas from a gas outlet, which isprovided in an inner side of an upper section of the cylinder and facesdownward, into the cylinder, the gate is provided at an upper part ofthe gas outlet, and the control section is configured to: close the gateso as to accommodate the goods dropped inside the chute, open the gateand supply inert gas with a first flow amount from the gas outlet intothe cylinder by controlling the gas supplying means immediately beforethe rearmost goods reach the chute, close the gate and supply inert gaswith a second flow amount instead of the first flow amount from the gasoutlet into the cylinder after the rearmost goods pass through the gate,and stop supply of inert gas with the second flow amount when a processin which the lateral sealing means presses the bag which is formed in atube shape is performed.
 5. The packaging device according to claim 4,wherein the gas outlet is formed in a ring shape along an inner wall ofthe cylinder.
 6. The packaging device according to claim 2, wherein thegate is detachably placed on an upper end section of the cylinder. 7.The packaging device according to claim 2, wherein the chute is made ofresin.
 8. The packaging device according to claim 3, wherein the gate isdetachably placed on an upper end section of the cylinder.
 9. Thepackaging device according to claim 4, wherein the gate is detachablyplaced on an upper end section of the cylinder.
 10. The packaging deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein the gate is detachably placed on an upperend section of the cylinder.
 11. The packaging device according to claim3, wherein the chute is made of resin.
 12. The packaging deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein the chute is made of resin.
 13. Thepackaging device according to claim 5, wherein the chute is made ofresin.
 14. The packaging device according to claim 6, wherein the chuteis made of resin.